Best Frito Pie Recipe

This easy Frito Pie Recipe is one of those recipes that one serving is not enough! Loaded with perfectly seasoned ground beef, melted cheesy goodness, and crunchy corn chips. It's a Tex-Mex casserole that's a sure-fire hit with everyone who tries it.

Jump to:

• ❤️ Why you’ll love this recipe
• Ingredients
• Instructions
• Equipment
• Storage
• Freezer Tips:
• Expert Tips
• FAQs
• Toppings
• Variations
• Similar Recipes
• 📖 Recipe
• 💬 Comments

❤️ Why you’ll love this recipe

• This is the best Frito pie and a great dish to make for potlucks, busy weeknight dinners, and celebratory days such as Cinco de Mayo, game day parties, and family get-togethers.
• A lot of people make small take-and-go Frito pies in a bag, by using the serving-size Frito bags.  These are also known as "Walking Tacos" So cute for a birthday party and tailgating.

Ingredients

• Ground beef - A blend of 80/20 beef will give a nice balance of flavor to this beef casserole.
• Taco Seasoning - Use homemade taco seasoning or a store-bought version, whatever you have on hand. The taco packets are great to keep in the cupboard for quick seasoning.
• Fire-roasted diced tomatoes, I highly suggest fire-roasted diced tomatoes which add just a hint of smokiness to the other ingredients.
• Cheddar Cheese - Anyone who has been reading my recipes for some time will know that I suggest grating your own cheese. The pre-shredded cheese usually has a sort of film on it and it's not great for melting.
• Corn - Fresh, frozen, or canned corn will work. Depending on the time of year, the corn can be leftovers from corn on the cob to give another layer of flavor.
• Green Onions -Garnish with diced tomatoes, chopped green onions, and more cheese.
• Frito Corn Chips - Don't skimp, use Fritos Corn Chips, oh my, this is the key to the deliciousness!

Instructions

This is an overview of the recipe. The full instructions are below in the recipe card.

1. In a large skillet, brown the ground beef until crumbled and cooked through. Add the onions and taco seasoning and water. Simmer until liquid thickens.
2. Add in corn, tomato sauce, and diced tomatoes and simmer for another 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat.

3. Spread a layer of corn chips on the bottom of the baking dish.

4. Pour the meat mixture over the chips.

5. Spread shredded cheese over the meat.

6. Sprinkle remaining corn chips over the cheese.

7. Bake at 350°F for about 25-30 minutes.

Once the Frito pie is baked, serve with your favorite toppings like Guacamole, Pico de Gallo, sour cream, olives, diced, onions, and shredded cheese.

Equipment

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• Baking Dish
• Large Skillet
• Cheese Grater
• Wooden Spoon

Storage

Leftovers can be kept in an airtight covered container in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in the oven at 350°F until warm, about 10 minutes. Microwave leftovers following manufacturers' instructions.

Freezer Tips:

The Frito Pie Casserole can be made ahead of time. Just don't add the top layer of Fritos until ready to bake the casserole. 

Once it has cooled, cover well with plastic wrap and foil before placing it in the freezer. It can be kept for about 3 months. Defrost in the fridge overnight before adding the remaining layer of chips.

Expert Tips

Eileen's Tip: I suggest grating your own cheese. The pre-shredded cheese has a film on it and it's not great for melting.

• The beef mixture can be made in larger batches. Place in freezer bags for use later. Defrost overnight in the fridge. The meat can be frozen for up to 3 months. Use the FDA Guidelines for freezing foods for specifics

FAQs

Toppings

Guacamole pairs beautifully with Frito Pie.

Salsa, pico de gallo, sour cream, black olives, diced tomatoes, jalapeños, chopped cilantro, and shredded lettuce are all fabulous toppings for Frito Pie.

Variations

As written, Frito Pie is just delicious. As always, so many recipes can be varied and this one is a perfect example.

• For the beef, you can vary and use ground turkey, ground chicken, or vegan crumbles.
• We've made this using cooked chicken with delicious results.
• Shredded Beef is another great choice in lieu of ground beef.
• Add any type of beans to the filling.
• A can of diced green chiles is another fabulous choice.
• Colby or Monterey Jack cheese would both be great in this taco casserole.
• Add in some refried beans for a variation in flavor.

Similar Recipes

While this is one amazing recipe, you may want to try our beef enchiladas, another delicious choice for dinner.

Burrito Bowls is a quick and delicious meal.

Enchilada Chicken Sliders are a fabulous choice for a fun dinner.

Shrimp Burrito Bowls are so darn good.

Slow Cooker Pork Carnitas are a fabulous choice for another easy tasty meal.

Chicken Tacos with Pineapple Mango Salsa isa fantastic dinner and the salsa is ah-mazing.

Chili Mac is one mouthwatering, easy one pan dinner.

The chips are key to the casserole. As they bake, they transform into a soft mouthwatering combo with seasoned beef and other flavorful ingredients. It's also one of the most versatile recipes with so many options and toppings.

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Thank you for your continued support. I am forever grateful.

Eileen  xo

If you click on the number of servings in the recipe card you can adjust the measurements up or down for the exact number of servings you need. recipe box!

If you love this recipe please give it 5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

📖 Recipe

The backstory to the recipe:

My North-East coast friends may not be so familiar with this taco bake with Frito chips. Years ago, I had this Frito Pie at a friend's house while living in Chicago. She was born and raised in Texas and introduced me to so many great recipes.